Pickleball paddle

ABSTRACT

A pickleball paddle includes a paddle body and a handle connected to the paddle body. The paddle body has at least one hollow cylindrical space therein. An angle is formed between an axis of the hollow cylindrical space and front and back face-plates of the paddle body. The hollow cylindrical space has an axial length and a radial length. The axial length is greater than the radial length. At least one rolling member that can roll back and forth along an axial direction of the hollow cylindrical space is disposed in the hollow cylindrical space. The pickleball paddle can enhance an explosive force for hitting a ball.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/006,920, “PICKLEBALL PADDLE”, filed on Aug. 31, 2020.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pickleball paddle, and more particularly to a pickleball paddle which can enhance an explosive force for hitting a ball.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Pickleball is a paddle sport (similar to a racquet sport) that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. The game started during the summer of 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Wash. The pickleball court is similar to a badminton court. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a Wiffle Ball, over a net. A pickleball paddle is shaped like a larger table tennis racket, originally made from wood. In these days, the pickleball paddle may be made from glass fiber, composite materials and graphite fiber.

The sport shares features of other racquet sports, the dimensions and layout of a badminton court, and a net and rules somewhat similar to tennis, with several modifications. Only the sewing side may score a point (similar to badminton). The ball is served with an underhand stroke so that contact with the ball is made below waist level (waist is defined as the navel level) in an upward arc. A player may enter the non-volley zone to play a ball that bounces and may stay there to play balls that bounce. The design of pickleball is to enable the players to be active. Pickleball is a patient competitive sport, not depending on strength or brute force. The player must exit the non-volley zone (the first seven feet from the net) before playing a volley, which is beneficial to reduce an excessive smash in front of the net.

In the United States, pickleball has become a regular sport in physical education classes of junior high schools, and has become popular among young people and the elderly. In New York, more than 500 schools have set pickleball as a course. There are many pickleball competitions in the United States every year. The United States has the International Federation of Pickleball.

A conventional pickleball paddle on the market includes a paddle body and a handle connected to the paddle body. In order to make the paddle body have a better shock-absorption effect, the paddle body has an accommodating space. Composite filler is disposed in the accommodating space. The composite filler is usually made of EVA foam. Although it provides a better shock-absorption effect after the composite filler is used, the explosive force for hitting a ball is greatly weakened. Besides, the overall mass of the paddle is increased, which affects the user's experience.

An example of a pickleball paddle having better shock-absorption and noise-dampened properties has been disclosed by Fox et al. in US Patent Application No. 2017/0136325 (“Fox et al.” hereafter). In Fox et al., the recited core area 105, two opposing surfaces (face-plates) 102 and 103, and support structure 106 are shown FIG. 1 , as well as an edge 104 corresponding to a frame. It is shown in FIG. 2A that the support structure 106, which is included within the core area 105, comprises adjoining cells all with a configuration of hexagonal, but not of cylindrical. However, Fox et al. also teach that these adjoining cells may be configured in hexagonal or non-hexagonal shapes (see in paragraph [0034]). The support structure cells, as shown in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C of Fox et al., are configured with an axial length longer than its radial length. Further, as depicted in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, Fox et al. disclose that these support structure cells are perpendicular to the two opposing surfaces (face-plates) 102 and 103. In FIG. 6A of Fox et al., it is shown that the support structure cells can be filled with fillers to adsorb the sound created when playing the game. In paragraphs [0038]-[0044], Fox et al., also disclose several types of different solid materials that can be used to adsorb sound, but no rolling member is explicitly disclosed therein.

As Fox et al. do not disclose that the solid materials filled in the support structure cells for adsorbing sound can freely move, it can be seen that the support structure cells are not disposed as tracks for moving objects, but as storage spaces for placing and filling the sound-adsorbing materials. The reason that the support structure cells are arranged to be perpendicular to the two opposing surfaces (face-plates) 102 and 103, is simply an arrangement of shapes for these structures, and not for providing a better angle for the sound-adsorbing materials to strike against the two opposing surfaces (face-plates) 102 and 103.

Another example of the prior art is a tennis racket disclosed by Frolow in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,405 (“Frolow” hereafter), whose weight and stiffness distribution are unconventional. This tennis racket can provide swing weight same as those provided by the rackets of the prior art, has a longer distance between the center of percussion and the handle end, has one weight means arranged in the handle portion, and is a patented racket developed to reduce the shock and vibration transmitted to the player's arm when the player is striking a ball with the racket.

Frolow discloses that, materials like sands or lead pellets can be used as energy absorbing materials to fill into the weight means attached to the handle end of a racket, thereby these energy absorbing materials can absorb much of the shock and vibration when a ball impact the racket (see Column 4, lines 14-26 of Frolow).

As respectively shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, two types of weight means, 8 and 14, are disclosed by Frolow. The features of these weight means are described in Column 6, lines 34-60 as follows: “(the weight means 8) consists of a rubber tube 12 having the ends plugged with rubber discs 11. The interior 13 of the tube 12 can be partially filled with a liquid, sand, metal pellets of a combination of these. It can also be filled with strips of energy absorbing material. Alternatively, the tube 12 need not be filled, but consist of a strip of suitable energy absorbing material. The weight means 8 is attached to the handle end by the wire 10, which allows free movement of the weight means 8 within the hollow handle 7, so that the weight means 8 may strike against the side wall of the handle 7, upon impact of the ball against the racket. FIG. 8 shows an alternative weight means 14, which is a lead or other suitable metal. The metal 14 is shown fastened firmly against the racket handle wall, but it can also be attached loosely so that it may strike the handle side wall upon impact of the ball with the racket. When the weight means 14 is firmly fastened against the racket handle wall, responsive to a single impulse force to the weight means 14, there is no significant motion between the weight means 14 and the racket handle. When the weight means 8 is loosely attached to the handle, responsive to a single impulsive force to the weight means 8, the motion between the weight means 8 and the handle portion does not oscillate between two extreme positions from the said handle portion a plurality of cycles.”

However, Frolow does not disclose how the weight means 8 or 14 impact on the racket face via the filling materials (as the weight means are arranged inside the hollow handle 7 away from the racket face).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pickleball paddle which can enhance an explosive force for hitting a ball.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

A pickleball paddle comprises a paddle body, which has a front and a back face-plates attached to its two surfaces, and a handle connected to the paddle body. The paddle body contains at least one hollow cylindrical space disposed therein, where the axis/axes of the hollow cylindrical space(s) may be perpendicular to both the front and the back face-plates of the paddle body, or oblique angles may be formed between said axis/axes and each of the two said face-plates. Further, the hollow cylindrical space(s) is(are) configured to have an axial length greater than its(their) radial length. Inside the hollow cylindrical space(s), at least one rolling member is disposed therein, which can roll along the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical space in a back and forth manner when playing a game with the paddle. That is, the longer axial length of the hollow cylindrical space provides tracks for the rolling member(s) to strike against the walls inside the hollow cylindrical space.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has obvious advantages and beneficial effects. Specifically, the advantages known to be obtained from the above technical solutions include:

Since at least one hollow cylindrical space is provided in the paddle body, and at least a rolling member is disposed inside the hollow cylindrical space where the rolling member can roll in a back and forth manner, when a player instantly swings the paddle body to hit a ball, the rolling member inside the hollow cylindrical space, due to the effect of inertia, will first push against the wall inside the cylindrical space and next to the back face-plate which will not contact with the ball. When the paddle body does hit on a ball, the speed of the paddle instantaneously drops. At this moment, due to the similar effect of inertia, the rolling member, now at a high speed, will strike the wall inside the hollow cylindrical space and next to the front face-plate that hits the ball. This strong impact will be transmitted to the face-plate hitting on the ball almost at the same time, which brings the paddle a second impact. Such a second impact can greatly enhance the strength of the explosive force for striking the ball.

The main function of changing the angle between the axis of the hollow cylindrical space and the face-plates is that, the user can select a desired paddle according to the way he/she hits a ball (for example, the skills he/she uses to cut a ball, drive a ball, and etc.) to complement his/her lack of power for hitting the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view, along with its perspective view in part, of a game paddle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a front view, along with its perspective view in part, of a game paddle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 ,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of FIG. 3 in another state;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2 ;

and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of FIG. 5 in another state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , a pickleball paddle according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a paddle body 10 and a handle 20 connected to the paddle body 10.

Inside the paddle body 10, at least one hollow cylindrical space 30 is disposed therein, where an oblique angle is formed between the axis of the hollow cylindrical space 30 and the front and back face-plates 12 of the paddle body 10. Thus, in this embodiment, the hollow cylindrical space 30 is obliquely arranged relative to the front and back face-plates 12 of the paddle body 10. The axial length of the hollow cylindrical space 30 is configured to be longer than its radial length. Inside the hollow cylindrical space 30, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , at least one rolling member 40 (see the lower portions of the figures) or a plurality of the rolling member 40 (see the upper portions of the figures) is provided, and said rolling member 40 can roll along the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical space 30 in a back and forth manner.

Referring to FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , a pickleball paddle according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a paddle body 10 and a handle 20 connected to the paddle body 10.

Inside the paddle body 10, at least one hollow cylindrical space 30 is disposed therein, where the hollow cylindrical space 30 is perpendicular to the front and back face-plates 12 of the paddle body 10. The axial length of the hollow cylindrical space 30 is configured to be longer than its radial length. Inside the hollow cylindrical space 30, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , at least one rolling member 40 (see the lower portions of the figures) or a plurality of rolling members 40 (see the upper portions of these figures) is provided, and said rolling member 40 can roll along the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical space 30 in a back and forth manner.

Specifically, the paddle body 10 comprises a substrate 11, a front and back face-plates 12, and a frame 13. The front and back face-plates 12 are layered on each of the two sides of the substrate 11, respectively. The frame 13 is fixedly or detachably connected to the circumferential side of the substrate 11.

The hollow cylindrical space 30 may be a circular cylindrical or a square cylindrical space, and it may be, without limitation, in any other shapes. The number of hollow cylindrical spaces 30 is also not limited. The rolling members 40 are made of various materials, such as metal. The rolling members 40 may be spherical or in various shapes. The number of the rolling members 40 is not limited, and can be arranged at any position of the paddle body 10 as required.

The use of this embodiment is described as follows:

When the user grabs the handle 20 and swings the paddle body 10 to strike a ball, the paddle is speeded with certain acceleration by the user, and the rolling members 40 in the hollow cylindrical space 30 are in close contact with the wall 321 of the hollow cylindrical space 30 due to inertia, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 . When the paddle body 10 hits on a ball, the speed of the paddle instantaneously drops. At this moment, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 , the rolling members 40 will strike the wall 322 of the hollow cylindrical space 30 from the wall 321 it just contacted and at a certain speed due to inertia. By such a way, the rolling members 40 will apply an impact to the hollow cylindrical space 30, and then the hollow cylindrical space 30 brings the paddle a second impact, further enhancing the strength of the explosive force for striking the ball greatly.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pickleball paddle comprising: a paddle body; and a handle connected to the paddle body; wherein the paddle body includes a substrate, a first face-plate attached to one side of the substrate, a second face-plate attached to another side of the substrate, and a frame fixedly connected to a circumferential side of the substrate; wherein the substrate is provided with at least one hollow cylindrical space arranged obliquely relative to the first and second face-plates of the paddle body, an axial length of the hollow cylindrical space is greater than a radial length of the hollow cylindrical space, and at least one rolling member disposed in the hollow cylindrical space thereby enabling the rolling member to roll back and forth in the hollow cylindrical space; and wherein when a user swings the paddle body to hit a ball, speed of the paddle will instantaneously drop and the rolling member will hit a top wall of the hollow cylindrical space from a bottom wall of the hollow cylindrical space at a speed due to inertia thus bringing the paddle a secondary force and thereby greatly enhancing hitting force on the ball.
 2. A pickleball paddle comprising: a paddle body; and a handle connected to the paddle body; wherein the paddle body includes a substrate, a first face-plate attached to one side of the substrate, a second face-plate attached to another side of the substrate, and a frame fixedly connected to a circumferential side of the substrate; wherein the substrate is provided with at least one hollow cylindrical space arranged perpendicular to the first and second face-plates of the paddle body, an axial length of the hollow cylindrical space is greater than a radial length of the hollow cylindrical space, and at least one rolling member disposed in the hollow cylindrical space thereby enabling the rolling member to roll back and forth in the hollow cylindrical space; and wherein when a user swings the paddle body to hit a ball, speed of the paddle will instantaneously drop and the rolling member will hit a top wall of the hollow cylindrical space from a bottom wall of the hollow cylindrical space at a speed due to inertia thus bringing the paddle a secondary force and thereby greatly enhancing hitting force on the ball. 